Louder calls for Hout Bay building to be demolished
Because people live there, eviction orders may be issued
A DERELICT council-owned house which has allegedly become a home for criminals and drug addicts in Hout Bay, could soon be demolished.
The Hout Bay Civic Association (HBCA) has criticised the City for failing to curb crime emanating from the building, which has been dubbed “The White House”.
Mayco member for transport Brett Herron said the building belonged to Transport for Cape Town and that demolition could take place next month.
Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said metro police were being deployed to the area.
HBCA chairperson Roscoe Jacobs said the association was “flabbergasted” by what he described as the City’s failure to take responsibility for problem buildings.
“The HBCA welcomes the initiation of the demolition of this problem building. However, we call on the City to deploy law enforcement officials at the building to curb criminal activities.”
Herron said the demolition process required that full Council approval be obtained before the structure could be demolished.
“The request for the demolition of the building in question is expected to be put before the July Council meeting for a decision.
“If these processes go according to plan, demolition can take place during the first two weeks of August,” he said.
Smith said the building had been identified as a “problem building” and earmarked for possible demolition, but because people were living in the house, eviction orders may be necessary.
“We have to take all these things into account, but we will take action to make sure the building does not present a problem to the neighbourhood.
“As it stands, the metro police area head has been alerted to the problem and they are doing as much as they can to curb the crime in that area,” Smith said.
Jacobs said residents in the area had been subjected to muggings, theft out of motor vehicles and smash-and-grabs near the house.
Sheena Finck, 28, has been living in the house for the past two years with her sons Elroy, 3, and five-year-old Aden. She said five other people were living in the house.
“If they break it down, we will have nowhere to go. The gangsters smoke here. They run through here when they are being chased. There’s nothing we can do about that,” she said.